rare and mysterious

dishes!  

  Found these yesterday

They're in marvelous shape, so I thought perhaps they were new (and so I wouldn't bother buying), until I turned them over and saw this logo.

When was the last time anything like this was made in the USA?

In addition to the dinner plates above - which I have eight of, not just four -- I got two 

vegetable bowls.

eight dessert bowls

even though you're only seeing four.

And a creamer and sugar bowl.

From the 'net: 'Charm House was created from March 1949 to October 1950. It is one of the most complicated lines to discuss since it was used in so many different ways. It was made with two new types of decorations from the 1950s; Applique and Dura-Print, as well as with decal treatments.'  It goes on to mention Homer Laughlin, but it's very confusing. Did Homer Laughlin make this or not??

'Tis a mystery.

A bag full of

Lester !

the Tuesday Song of the Week

The simple and the straightforward from 1964:

'Bad to Me' - Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas

What I bought yesterday

Yesterday, in spite of the fact that hubs and I both have awful chest colds, we took a stroll through Quaker City flea.  Here's what I found:

these are neat little things for carrying around pix

of your favorite soldier boy.

FABULOUS barkcloth drapes

aDORABLE vintage Easter candy containers

A charming example of folky art

I also got two 1940s ties, and a box of some elegant Depression glass.

Total spent: $26

spicy Cuban

dolls!!

purchased in 1935 by a couple honeymooning in Cuba.

Mambo-licious, are they not?

latest vintage ties and vintage neckties

You may have seen some of these before, but each and every one is worth a second -- or hundred and ninety-eth - look.

warm evening in the local inn circa 1850

(the inn, not the tie)

two -- that's TWO -- not quite fleurs de lis

Betsy Ross is in the house

as are the Pony Express riders

A whole tie's worth of Balinese dancers

(that's moiré Balinese dancers)

hearts and flowers and cherubs

Our Lady of Skinny Ties

male chauvinist pigs

I'm baaaaack

Yes, yes, I know you didn't get a Tuesday Song of the Week this week, nor did you get any  unrelated pictures or fascinating text.

For hubs and I were on the road over the past several days.

On our way to a family wedding in Florida.

Yes, I know South of the Border is not in Florida but a) it's bo cool and kitschy and should not be missed, and b) it's on the way.

We stopped here on the way back.  The Orange Shop is located in what looks like could be the outskirts of Mayberry.  They've been in biz since the 1930s.

It's situated on a real orange grove.

In addition to selling almost frighteningly fresh citrus fruit and juice,

they sell candy, which includes...

but is not limited to alligator-related sweets.

Note that during this trip I got a BUNCH of awesome and marvelous stuff from flea markets and antiques shops, which you soon will see.